Venezuela: Maduro allows migrant flight from US despite tensions

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on Tuesday authorised the entry of a repatriation flight from the US, days after he said that the program would be affected owing to tensions with Washington.

“The Aeronautic Authority of Venezuela has received a request from the government of the United States to restart migrant repatriation flights from that country to Venezuela,” the transportation ministry said in a statement.

An Eastern Airlines flight flying from Phoenix has been authorised to land at Maiquetia, near Caracas, the ministry added.

US President Donald Trump, earlier this week, warned that the airspace around Venezuela should be “considered closed” as he acknowledged his phone call with Maduro. This statement prompted Caracas to unilaterally halt repatriation flights carrying Venezuelan migrants.

The Venezuelan government has previously said that nearly 14,000 Venezuelans had returned home from the US on the flights between February and November, amid the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown in the US.

Meanwhile, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has said that he “did not personally see survivors” before a second attack on an alleged Venezuelan drug boat was ordered. His statement comes as the Trump administration faces heat from lawmakers over the use of military force.

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An initial strike reportedly left two survivors clinging to the burning vessel, but a second strike was allegedly ordered, killing them. The September 2 strike has raised concerns that US forces may have breached the laws of armed conflict.

Trump and his top national security officials met in White House on Monday to discuss the government’s next steps in Venezuela as tensions soar between the two countries.

Amid all this, Maduro has rejected  “a slave’s peace,” as his leadership comes under increasing pressure from the Trump administration.

“We want peace, but peace with sovereignty, equality, freedom! We do not want a slave’s peace, nor the peace of colonies!” Maduro said at a rally in Caracas, even as Trump was set to meet his top national security officials to discuss Venezuela.

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With inputs from agencies